Munster boss backs Stradey match

29 March 2007 11:45am

By WRU

(Main) Barry Davies dives over the Munster line in November's Magners League clash (Thumb) Rhys Thomas takes on Munster's Trevor Halstead and Tim McGann in the same match; the teams meet in a Heineken Cup quarter-final this Friday at Stradey Park

Munster Head Coach Declan Kidney has applauded the Scarlets' decision to stage the Heineken Cup quarter-final match at Stradey Park.

The Welsh region had originally considered the prospect of switching the quarter-final clash a few miles down the road to the home of their arch rivals Ospreys and their 20,000 capacity Liberty Stadium.

Yet despite the lucrative option of holding almost double what Stradey Park can hold, the Scarlets backed off against the move and decided to host the European champions in their own backyard.

Kidney knows only too well how important home advantage is at this stage of the competition. Munster have only been beaten once in Europe at their near legendary Thomond Park and he believes the Stradey factor could prove crucial in such a finely balanced tie.

He said: "It was a rugby decision, rather than a financial one, to keep the game at Stradey and that has to be applauded. They worked hard to get six wins in the pool stages so they would hope that every advantage counts in the knockout stages.

"Playing the game there will be just that. It's very much like Limerick's Thomond Park. The supporters are vocal and close to the pitch so it's always a tough place to go to get a win.

"It really does give them an edge and we will have to combat that. No doubt they will use that factor to their advantage and they made the right decision from their perspective in staying there.

"From our point of view, we have to feel confident in ourselves of going anywhere to play well and come away with a win."

Not that Kidney is expecting an easy ride. A 10,800 sell-out crowd will cram in to see the Scarlets bid to reach the last-four of the premier club cup competition for the first time since 2002.

Kidney, whose own fans are renowned for making opposition grounds turn into a sea of red with their large band of travelling support, believes his side will have to cope with the fully-charged atmosphere of a rival side's support for once.

He added, "All Welsh people are very passionate and are very much like our supporters. So you imagine their players will thrive on that and be fired up also. Their support will back their side to the hilt and by all accounts we may be outnumbered for once."

He went on, "The games between the two sides are never run of the mill and are always tight affairs. I expect that to be the same as there's lot of respect between both sides and it will be a huge occasion."

Kidney will name his side later today, but will be definitely be without inspirational captain Paul O'Connell and former Swansea back Shane Payne. The Irish province are also sweating over injury concerns surrounding John Kelly, Anthony Horgan, Mick O'Driscoll and Anthony Foley.

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